A sedan used in smuggling narcotics speeds north from Tiajuana, Mexico. In it are gangsters Mooney and Tony Rocco, and Rocco's son, Johnny. . A California motorcycle cop overtakes it. Mooney suddenly brakes the sedan, the officer smashes into it and is killed. Johnny is shocked by the murder and Mooney cautions Rocco to keep the kid's mouth shut. Later at school, Johnny's teacher, Lois Mayfield, noticing something is troubling Johnny, calls on his father and awakens in Rocco an awareness of the world Johnny is being exposed to. The narcotic smuggling syndicate head, Gordon Lane, fearful that Johnny will tell all he knows, orders Mooney to trail the boy. To escape Mooney, Johnny runs into a church where he is befriended by Father Regen. Police Inspector Garron, meanwhile visits Lois, who was seen emerging from Rocco's apartment